Happiness is a state of mind. One can be in terribly unhappy circumstances, yet be happy. It seems awfully arrogant to be shocked that poor people could be happy. What the hell are they supposed to be or do? Sit around all day and cry about not being rich. For the poor to spend their energy being unhappy is to buy into the value system and the assessment which the rich try and impose on the rest of the world. In my mind, being happy does not mean being content -- yet, in many circumstances, being happy is the best revenge on the ruling class. For instance, couldn't you just hear Bob Dole or Newty saying something like; "Look at all them god damned welfare mothers and their various brats by various fathers playing in the fucking park. How DARE they enjoy the summer!!! What RIGHT do THEY have being happy!!! They're so happy, let's put them on WORKFARE and make them fucking UN happy!" In fact, we deliver tremendous approbation on those who refuse to be happy! For instance, we punish people who beat each other up, well, unless it's women who are getting the beatings, then we just shut the window and turn up the t.v. And we punish people who abuse their children, and so much the better if the kids die, then we can throw them in prison for life. And we punish ... . Hmmm, how many happy people did this study say there were? maggie coleman [EMAIL PROTECTED]
